# Why Cross-Functional Product Teams Rule

- Show: [The Pragmatic Embedded Podcast](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-pragmatic-embedded-podcast)
- Published: 2021-01-19
- Length: 33m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-pragmatic-embedded-podcast/2021-01-19-why-cross-functional-product-teams-rule
- Listen: https://agileembeddedpodcast.com/episodes/why-cross-functional-product-teams-rule-4ywRHffK

## Summary

Jeff Gable and Luca discuss why cross-functional product teams are superior to traditional siloed departments for developing embedded systems. They argue that functional silos create communication barriers, conflicting goals, and slow feedback loops, whereas small, interdisciplinary teams enable faster iteration and better problem-solving. The hosts share anecdotes from their careers in aerospace, automotive, and medical device industries to illustrate the pitfalls of large corporate structures and the benefits of agile, product-centric organization.

## Chapters

- [0:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-pragmatic-embedded-podcast/2021-01-19-why-cross-functional-product-teams-rule#t=0) Defining Cross-Functional Teams
- [1:52](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-pragmatic-embedded-podcast/2021-01-19-why-cross-functional-product-teams-rule#t=112) The Pitfalls of Siloed Departments
- [11:16](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-pragmatic-embedded-podcast/2021-01-19-why-cross-functional-product-teams-rule#t=676) Conway's Law and Shadow Org Charts
- [15:19](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-pragmatic-embedded-podcast/2021-01-19-why-cross-functional-product-teams-rule#t=919) Driving Change in Large Organizations
- [20:20](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-pragmatic-embedded-podcast/2021-01-19-why-cross-functional-product-teams-rule#t=1220) The Efficiency Myth of Functional Silos
- [25:06](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-pragmatic-embedded-podcast/2021-01-19-why-cross-functional-product-teams-rule#t=1506) Interdisciplinary Skills and Systems Engineering
- [32:16](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-pragmatic-embedded-podcast/2021-01-19-why-cross-functional-product-teams-rule#t=1936) Conclusion: Unshipped Work is Waste

## Topics

- [Leadership, teams & culture](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/leadership-and-culture)
- [Embedded firmware](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/embedded-firmware)
- [Careers & education](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/engineering-careers-and-education)

## Most relevant to

established companies

## Mentioned

- Boeing (company)
- Agile Embedded Academy (company)
- Pragmatic Embedded Slack (other)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [#064 - To transform or not to transform your hardware company to an all agile one next year, with Balint Horvath, Switzerland](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-hardware-entrepreneur/2018-11-21-064-to-transform-or-not-to-transform-your-hardware-company-to-an-all-agile-one-n) (The Hardware Entrepreneur)
- [225: Communication Silos for Product Design Stakeholders](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/product-startup/2024-05-09-225-communication-silos-for-product-design-stakeholders) (Product Startup)
- [Is This A Show?](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2015-07-02-is-this-a-show) (The Amp Hour)
- [290: Rule of Thumbs (Repeat)](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2022-01-07-290-rule-of-thumbs-repeat) (Embedded.fm)
- [440: Condemned to Being Perfect](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2023-01-13-440-condemned-to-being-perfect) (Embedded.fm)

## Citing this page

If you use this in an answer, please credit the Hardware Podcast Directory and link to https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-pragmatic-embedded-podcast/2021-01-19-why-cross-functional-product-teams-rule. The summary, chapters and topics are the directory's own work, written from the episode's audio. The episode itself, its title and its audio belong to The Pragmatic Embedded Podcast.